Posts
No
doubt the Israelis will be in, boots and all. There is no doubt in my
mind that the Israeli envoy will have had instructions to block any
chance of a truce – that is not what they want.
Latest
casualties are 71 Palestians dead, including 25 children
Cairo
ceasefire negotiations have failed - Hamas official
Hamas
official Abu Zahri says that ceasefire negotiations in Cairo have
failed, Israeli TV reports. The announcement comes amid international
efforts to put an end to the ongoing violence.
RT,
18
November, 2012
An
Israeli envoy arrived in Cairo on Sunday for Egypt-mediated truce
talks with Hamas.
The
meeting was focused on agreeing guarantees for ceasefire conditions.
It was Egypt's latest attempt to broker a truce.
Hamas
is seeking a truce deal which will lift the border blockade on Gaza
imposed since Islamists seized the territory by force.
It
also wants Israel to halt targeted killings of its leaders and
military commanders.
Israeli
officials reject the demands, saying they are not interested in a
temporary agreement, and want firm guarantees that the rocket fire
will end.
US
President Barack Obama said on Sunday that Israel has a right to self
defense. “There is no country on earth that would tolerate missiles
raining down on its citizens from outside its borders,” Obama said
in a statement.
He
did, however, say that it would be "preferable" to avoid a
ground offensive on Gaza.
"If
[the ceasing of missiles from Gaza] can be accomplished without a
ramping up of military activity in Gaza, that is preferable. That's
not just preferable for the people of Gaza, it's also preferable for
Israelis because if Israeli troops are in Gaza they're much more at
risk of incurring fatalities or being wounded," he said.
On
Friday, Israel called up 75,000 army reservists to prepare for a
possible ground invasion.
Meanwhile,
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius met with Israeli President
Shimon Peres and Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in
Jerusalem on Sunday, to offer his country's help in bringing about a
ceasefire.
"There
is a real urgency and we think that war must be avoided. And so,
there are long-term problems but also short-term problems with
security and bringing about a ceasefire," Fabius told AP.
In
a statement, Liberman said the primary goal was to put an end to
attacks on Israeli soil.
“We
appreciate all of the recommendations provided by our friends…but
the first condition must be an absolute end to the rocket attacks on
Israel by Gaza Arab terrorists. As soon as the attacks end, we will
be happy to discuss any plans,” he said.
German
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle is expected to arrive in Israel on
Monday, to attempt to advance a ceasefire.
UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will meet with Egyptian President
Mohamed Morsi and other officials in Egypt on Monday, according to
the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
The
failed negotiations come on the day of the conflict's highest death
toll. At least 21 people were killed in Israeli air strikes on
Sunday. At least seven children were among those killed.
PaulaSlier_RT
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